Professional Interests

Abstract

Professional interests in Europe are organised at the peak and sectoral levels. Table 3.1 (p. 59) indicates that there are 69 European-level associations representing professions, although, as is indicated later (Table 6.1) this may be an underestimation, depending on the definition of a ‘profession’. Of interest is that a much smaller proportion of these (25 or 36 per cent) are based in Brussels than is the case with other types of interest groups, indicating an earlier stage of development. Also of significance is that a higher proportion of European-level professional associations are based in Britain than are other types of associations, and that, after Brussels, Britain is the most important base for European-level professional associations, accounting for 17 (25 per cent) of all of these.